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thedrifter
08-25-08, 09:31 AM
City hosts its biggest 'welcome home' yet
Four local Marines return from duty in Middle East to 'whirlwind' celebration
August 25, 2008

BY ANGELA BENDAER Special to The Sun

Four local area Marines who have served in Iraq since January returned home Saturday to a red, white and blue Naperville welcome - complete with bagpipes, fire trucks and Mayor A. George Pradel.

Among the returnees enjoying the celebration at the Holiday Inn Select on Naper Boulevard were Naperville Central High School graduate Cpl. Ryan Anderson, 28; Neuqua Valley High School graduate Pfc. Joshua B. Rumbley, 21; Naperville North High School graduate Lance Cpl. Nick D. Wlodarski, 20; and Naperville police officer and Gunnery Sgt. Steve Woodham, 38. Not in attendance at the Naperville festivities but also returning on Saturday were residents Dennis Jacobsen, Jason Wood and Brandon Gambry.

The troops were primarily from the 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines Reserve Unit made up of servicemen from Milwaukee and Chicago. The unit was based in the al-Anbar Province in western Iraq.

"We've never had a group this large returning before (to Naperville)," said Donna Morsovillo, whose husband, Jim, is a Vietnam veteran and is the unofficial coordinator of "welcome home" events for Naperville area servicemen. "This is a first for us."

The Marines' arrival began Saturday morning when they landed at Chicago Midway Airport. After their arrival they were escorted by 100 Patriot Guard Riders to the Allstate Arena in Rosemont.

A minor crisis occurred when one of the buses that was carrying Marines in the motorcade broke down on Interstate 294, closing down part of the highway. The Marines did eventually arrive at the arena, where they were formally dismissed and reunited with their families.

Some then went home to more celebrating. Woodham's neighbors greeted him with a reception before he left to go on to the Naperville festivities.

"It's been a whirlwind day," he said.

At the Naperville celebration, the Marines were introduced to the crowd of well-wishers, made up of family, friends, spouses and parents of military members still stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and also those who wanted to show support for the troops. The Naperville Fire and Police Department, as well as a brigade of local area motorcycle enthusiasts, then escorted the soldiers to the Judd Kendall VFW Hall in Naperville where they were given roses and greeted by local area veterans.

Donna Perchatsch of Naperville, who does not know any of the Marines who returned but has a son and husband serving in Iraq, said, "I just wanted to come out and support our troops, go to the VFW, and have some fun."

The returning soldiers, who have been told they will not be called up for four more years, are looking forward to getting back to civilian life. Anderson plans to get to know his newborn son, Scout, who was born to his wife, Emily, in June. Wlodarkski plans to attend Northern Illinois University in the spring. Rumbley also plans on going back to college and getting reacquainted with his girlfriend, Chelsea DeRose.

"It was up and down but we made it through," DeRose said. "It was a challenge."

Woodham will be returning to his position as a Naperville police officer in November. First he plans on taking time off to be with his wife, Casey, and three sons, Zachary, 8, Ryan, 5, and Jacob, 3. They also have planned a vacation to Florida.

"I want to readjust with my family," Woodham said.

Adding to the poignancy of the Marines' homecoming was that less than two weeks ago two servicemen from Naperville, Tony Mihalo and James Hale, were killed while serving overseas in Afghanistan and Iraq, respectively.

Morsovillo, who also had coordinated a Naperville homecoming for Mihalo when he returned home from Iraq in January, said, "With the sadness of (Mihalo's) falling, it is with mixed emotions that we had this event. But these soldiers deserve a happy welcome home, as well."

Ellie